Christmas Festival of Lights

Nightly Nov. 13, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026
Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 8 to Feb. 8, 2026
Come see Zoolumination, a Chinese and Christmas Festival of Lights at the Nashville Zoo in a whole new light and enjoy the country’s largest Chinese lantern festival. Over 500 custom-made silk lanterns will be spread across 60 acres, creating elaborate displays with some of your favorite Zoo animals, holiday-themed scenes and even a 200-foot-long dragon.

Event Features

• Animal Friends Most of our animals go to bed before dark. However, Sumatran tiger, Andean bear and flamingos can stay up until 8:30 pm. Unseen New World will be open all night except on select weekend nights for Night Owls.
• Drinks Hot cocoa (spiked available), beer, margaritas, specialty cocktails, coffee and soda will be available for purchase until around 8:00 pm nightly.
• Food Quills Café & Grill will be open, featuring a delicious Chinese takeout–themed menu, along with Screaming Gibbon Pizza Kitchen serving fresh, made-to-order pizza. Festive sweet treats and classic Zoo snacks will be available at concession stands until around 8:00 pm nightly.
• Meet Santa From Nov. 28 to Dec. 24, meet Santa at the barn behind the Historic Home starting at 5:00 pm.
• The Smashville Ice Rink, presented by Nobody Trashes Tennessee Tickets for ice skating must be purchased in addition to Single-Night Admission or Platinum Pass tickets and include a 45-minute session and skate rentals. Tickets can be purchased online, at Entry Village, or at the ice rink.

Visit the Youtube channel of The World of GMman to walk through Zoolumination, a Chinese and Christmas Festival of Lights at the Nashville Zoo and see other areas of Nashville that you will want to visit.